CVE-2026-72184 ntfs: fix hole runlist memory leak in insert range error path
A memory leak in the Linux kernel NTFS driver allows local attackers to exhaust system memory, potentially causing a denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-72184?
CVE-2026-72184 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ntfs: fix hole runlist memory leak in insert range error path
ntfs_non_resident_attr_insert_range() allocates hole_rl before mapping the whole runlist. If ntfs_attr_map_whole_runlist() fails, the error path drops ni->runlist.lock and returns without freeing hole_rl. This leaks memory of sizeof(*hole_rl) * 2 bytes.
Fix this memory leak by freeing hole_rl before returning from that error path, matching the later error paths in the same function.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72184?
How do I fix CVE-2026-72184?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-72184 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72184 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72184, GHSA-x6h6-wxj3-fc28, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72184.